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Alia Whitney-Johnson first started making beaded jewellery when she was seven years old. Five years later, she transformed that hobby into a full-fledged business, and at 19 she turned her small childhood business into an international nonprofit organisation, empowering young Sri Lankan mothers made pregnant through rape and incest. As a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Whitney-Johnson visited the college's Public Service Centre looking for summer opportunities. A short time later, she was on a plane headed to Sri Lanka to do tsunami relief work with people she had never met. During her time in Sri Lanka, she visited a shelter for young mothers - some of them as young 10 or 12 - whose children were the products of incest or rape. That visit turned what was supposed to be just a summer activity into Whitney-Johnson's lifelong work and mission. "I knew beading was something the girls could do regardless of their age, regardless of their education," she said. "I taught one beading class, and I honestly thought that would be it. Two days later, the girls' counsellor came back to me and said, 'There's a girl that's so proud of the necklace she made, she won't even take it off to shower.' That inspired Whitney-Johnson to do more, and she started the nonprofit organisation Emerge Global. Its goal is to help these girls - who often have been denied formal education, cast out of their families and literally locked away - gain confidence, respect and self-reliance. Johnson's efforts shined as she was named one of 32 Rhodes Scholars from across the United Kingdom. "For me, the incredible thing about this recognition is, it's brought a lot of attention to the challenges these girls are facing in Sri Lanka," said Whitney-Johnson, 22. "These different awards have really helped me shed light on this issue that is really important to me." The girls make jewellery, which is sold both in Sri Lanka and in America. The proceeds are put into savings accounts for the young mothers, which they can access when they turn 18. Three years after Emerge Global first started, more than 60 girls ages 10-18 have benefited from the programme, and the participants are now teaching other young girls, giving them a chance to mentor each other and establish their own community.
The organisation also talks to the girls about their goals and ambitions, and works with them to help accomplish them. There are currently 45 girls in the programme. By the end of next year, Johnson would like to see that number reach 85. "I studied environmental engineering because I was interested in satisfying fundamental human needs," she said. "I was really interested in access to clean water. That's kind of the same reason I started Emerge Global. These kids have been so broken, they have really lost the ability to have their own dreams, to have their own goals. "They are all linked through my interest in international development and helping people create their own vision of the future." After graduating from MIT in January with a degree in civil and environmental engineering, Whitney-Johnson will move to England to begin studying international development at Oxford University. The Rhodes Trust pays all college and university fees, provides a stipend to cover expenses while living in Oxford and all trips and transport to and from England, an estimated $500,000 per year, according to Elliot F.Gerson, American secretary of the Rhodes Trust. She hopes to use both her degrees and the contacts she will make being a Rhodes Scholar to turn Emerge Global into a truly international organisation. She also wants to build a community and school for the girls in the organisation. "I see her as using it as a way of not empowering herself as much as making a better world for everybody," said John Johnson, Whitney-Johnson's father. "I know she sees it the same way." Whitney-Johnson is also a Truman Scholar. In 2007, she was recognised as one of Glamour Magazine's Top 10 College Women. Asheville Citizen-Times Pamper your skin With natural body lotionsWhile it is important to take care of our facial skin we also need to pay some attention to the less exposed areas of our body too. Caring for your body using natural body lotions can be a wise option.
You can also prepare your natural body lotions at home. This does not take too much of effort nor does it make a dent in your pocket. Most ingredients that you can use to prepare your natural body lotions are commonly used at home. Here are some easy-to-prepare homemade natural body lotions. Rose and Lime body lotion-Mix together three tablespoons rose water, one tablespoon glycerin and two tablespoons lime juice. Transfer in a jar and refrigerate. This lotion is easily absorbed by our skin and is very good for dry and chapped skin. So pamper your skin with the natural goodness of lime and rose and feel the difference! Satin body lotionMix three tablespoons of soap flakes in one fourth cup water. Heat to prepare a solution. Turn off the heat. Then add four teaspoons olive oil to the solution. Stir gently and add a teaspoon of glycerin stirring all the while. Let the mixture cool. To add a touch of colour to this body lotion, add a few drops of blue colouring or any other coloring that you prefer. Add a few drops of perfume. Use this natural satin body lotion as an after-shower body lotion and enjoy the glow that it gives to your skin. Since these natural body lotions are composed of natural ingredients, your skin is protected from unnecessary exposure to chemicals. The natural goodness in these body lotions helps to maintain the health of your skin. So pamper your body with natural lotions. Caution: Do not use if you are sensitive to any ingredient used in the recipe. In such cases, it is better to consult a skin specialist before trying out any beauty recipes. beautytipshub.com Mahamaya girls : Guiding the way through successMahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, turned a new leaf in its history as they established their first Guide week from November 3 to 8. Initiated by the Girl Guide committee comprising 22 Presidential Guides, the largest number from a school in 2006, Guide week comprises of annual events like Friendship Day, blood donations and hike.
“We decided to bring our annual activities together to incept this programme mainly due to convenience. Girl Guides are requested to perform these activities each year and sometimes it is difficult to find time to dedicate ourselves to these events due to studies. Through Guide week, we can devote ourselves to these tasks,” President of the Girl Guide Committee, Nadeeshani Gunatileke said. Guide week began with Friendship Day for which many schools in the Kandy district took part. Under the theme Sipsara Sumithura, the event was based on a village concept. ”We used waste products for decorations and held folk games like scraping coconut and making paper dolls. Later a members of the Army lectured us on security measures,” she said. The second day of the Girl Guide week comprised a line up of events based on Buddhism. A Dharma Deshana by two bhikkhus was held under the slogan Nivunu Sithin. The Guide Zone programme which centered on meditation and promoting spiritual values followed. All the Guides from year six to 13 took part in this event in which they visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic and lighted around 500 lamps to make the symbol of the Mahamaya Girls’ College Girl Guide badge. A blood donation campaign was held in collaboration with the Blood Bank on the third day of Guide Week. The guides targeted on collecting 120 blood samples but the sum ran to nearly 140 as crowds poured in. A Sramadana programme titled Apatai Me Mihitale: Pasel Pavithratha Wadasatahana was held during school hours with the participation of students from Year Six to 10. The students cleaned and dusted the areas around their classrooms during the course of the day before setting off for home. Friday dawned with the Girl Guides setting off for route marking in Dunumadalawa reserve or Wakerawatta located close to the school. A few guides stayed behind to decorate the school auditorium for the grand finale on the final day of Guide Week. Girl Guides and Scouts from around 15 schools from various districts took part in the final event which was a hike through Wakerawatte. “This event was the highlight of our Girl Guide week. The hike was held in memory of our Girl Guide captain, Srima Sinharachchi who passed away last year. She had been the out mentor for 17 years. Everyone concentrates on winning the Sinharachchi Memorial trophy. We also choose the Best Guide Group, the Best Scout Group and the Best Explorer,” Nadeeshani said adding that November is normally the best time for hikes. “A lot of people have helped us in putting Guide Week together. We wish to thank S. Meegahakumbura from the Army for his advice, our Principal I. Vithanachchi, our Vice-Principals A. Dissanayake, V. Herath, S. Senadeera and U. Seniveratne along with our teachers S. Jayawardene, A. Wedage, S. Dissanayake, R. Liyanage, S. Perera, K. Hiriburegama, and N. Gunaratne for their support,” she said. She also said that the Vice-President of Mahamaya Girl Guide Committee, Pabasari Koliyabandara, Secretary Indeewari Denuwara, Assistant Secretary Sumudu Mallalagama, Treasurer Nilakshi Jayawardene and Assistant Treasurer Iromika Wijesundara worked hard to make their maiden Guide Week a success. Maalu soupIngredients 200 grams fish (pieces)
2 onion 1 tomato 50 grams lentils 1/2 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon cumin 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 litre water 25 grams butter 1 Curry leaf sprig 2 teaspoons lime juice Directions Clean, wash and fillet the fish. Chop the onions and tomato. Place the fish in a pan and add half the onion, the tomato, lentils, coriander, cumin, pepper and water. Cook over a medium heat for approximately 45 minutes, then blend and strain the liquid. Heat the butter and stir fry the remaining onion and curry leaves. Add to the fish soup and just prior to serving sprinkle the soup with lime juice. Do you mean it?
Your Love is reciprocated Baby’s Breath: Happiness Carnation: Fascination Daffodil: Emblem of Annunciation/ Regard, Unrequited love Dahlia: Good Taste Daisy: Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love Jasmine: Amiability and Cheerfulness Lotus: Mystery and Truth Orchid: Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement Poppy: Imagination, Dreaminess, Eternal sleep Rose, Pink: Love, Grace, Gentility, You’re so Lovely, Perfect Happiness, Please believe me Water Lily: Eloquence and persuasion |
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Natural
body lotions help to maintain the pH of your skin and nourish your skin
so that it remains soft and also adversely affect your looks and cause
premature aging. Natural body lotions can effectively slow down the
aging process of your skin and keep it youthful. 
Ambrosia:
